Gifts brought to the baby Jesus reveal he was accepted as a king by Gentiles, WFU professor says Gifts brought to the baby Jesus reveal he was accepted as a king by Gentiles, WFU professor says (336) 758-5237 December 4, 2000 With the exception of gold, the three gifts the Wise Men brought to the baby Jesus probably aren't high on most people's Christmas lists. Frankincense and myrrh aren't widely valued in Western culture today. But, a Wake Forest University professor says those gifts reveal that Jesus was revered as a king not only by Jews, but also by Gentiles who lived in the Middle East. At the time of Jesus' birth, gold, frankincense and myrrh were traditional gifts given to royalty in the Middle East, says Fred Horton, John T. Albritton Professor of the Bible at Wake Forest. Though they were presented to a baby born in a Bethlehem stable instead of one born in a royal palace, the presents signified loyalty and reverence for a king. Gold, frankincense and myrrh were very highly valued in Middle Eastern culture at that time.

"Most Palestinian Jews of the first century would have been unable to afford such gifts," Horton says. Gold, which is frequently mentioned as a gift for kings in the Hebrew Bible, was as precious in the first century as it is today. Frankincense and myrrh, fragrant gum resins extracted from trees in South Arabia and Ethiopia, were used to make fine perfumes and anointing oils during the era of Jesus' birth in the Middle East. "Oils were used extensively in the Middle East to restore moisture after bathing and to protect skin from the dangerous rays of the Middle Eastern sun," Horton said. But the reverence for frankincense began long before Jesus' time. The Egyptians used hundreds of pounds of it per funeral. When King Tutankhamen's tomb was opened 3,000 years after his death, the scientists found the smell of frankincense was still heavy in the air. Greeks used the resin to honor their heroes, and the Romans later used it to cure soldiers' skin infections and bruises. The Chinese sent their precious porcelain to Africa by boat to trade it for frankincense which they used to improve respiratory health. Sweet-smelling frankincense also had historic religious importance.

It was one ingredient in the incense burned in the temple of ancient Israel and other holy sites. It is still thought today by some that the smoke of incense carries prayers up to God. Myrrh was far more rare in the era of Jesus' birth. Arab men drank it mixed with fragrant liquids to cure baldness. In India, the resin was used to cure obesity and prolong life. The Chinese mixed it with breastmilk to cure diaper rash. Because the resin from both frankincense and myrrh were used by so many ancient cultures, some scholars say the two resins were probably at their height of value around the time of Jesus' birth. Many estimate that at that time, translated into modern money, frankincense would have cost $500 per pound. Myrrh would have cost $4,000 per pound. While much is known about the gifts themselves, the bearers, known as the Magi or "Wise Men," remain somewhat mysterious to modern scholars. "The Gospel of Matthew, which is the only Biblical document that tells us about the Magi, does not mention how many there were, nor how they got from place to place," Horton says.

"We do know something about Magi in the ancient world, however. Often the word 'Magi' refers to wandering Mithraic priests." Archeological excavations in Caesarea, a city on the coast of the modern state of Israel, have uncovered clues to the identity of the Magi mentioned in the Bible. In 1973, a group found a mithraeum, or place for worshipping the god of Mithras, there. Horton has led several digs in Caesarea since 1976. Horton says Matthew's mention of this ancient religious group in his Gospel was no accident. "The author makes it clear that the birth of Jesus was an event not just for the Jews, but for the whole world." Why Did the Magi Bring Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh? - Biblical Archaeology Society Why Did the Magi Bring Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh? Medicinal uses of frankincense may help explain the gifts of the magi This Bible History Daily feature was originally published in 2011.—Ed. Were the gifts of the magi meant to save Jesus from the pain of arthritis?

It’s possible, according to researchers at Cardiff University in Wales who have been studying the medical uses of frankincense. Since the early days of Christianity, Biblical scholars and theologians have offered varying interpretations of the meaning and significance of the gold, frankincense and myrrh that the magi presented to Jesus, according to the Gospel of Matthew (2:11). These valuable items were standard gifts to honor a king or deity in the ancient world: gold as a precious metal, frankincense as perfume or incense, and myrrh as anointing oil. In fact, these same three items were apparently among the gifts, recorded in ancient inscriptions, that King Seleucus II Callinicus offered to the god Apollo at the temple in Miletus in 243 B.C.E. The Book of Isaiah, when describing Jerusalem’s glorious restoration, tells of nations and kings who will come and “bring gold and frankincense and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord” (Isaiah 60:6). Although Matthew’s gospel does not include the names or number of the magi, many believe that the number of the gifts is what led to the tradition of the Three Wise Men .

Interested in learning about the birth of Jesus? Learn more about the history of Christmas and the date of Jesus’ birth in the free eBook The First Christmas: The Story of Jesus’ Birth in History and Tradition . The traditional gifts of the magi—gold, frankincense and myrrh—may have had symbolic as well as practical value. Researchers believe the medicinal uses of frankincense were known to the author of Matthew’s gospel. In addition to the honor and status implied by the value of the gifts of the magi, scholars think that these three were chosen for their special spiritual symbolism about Jesus himself—gold representing his kingship, frankincense a symbol of his priestly role, and myrrh a prefiguring of his death and embalming—an interpretation made popular in the well-known Christmas carol “We Three Kings.” Still others have suggested that the gifts of the magi were a bit more practical—even medicinal in nature. Researchers at Cardiff University have demonstrated that frankincense has an active ingredient that can help relieve arthritis by inhibiting the inflammation that breaks down cartilage tissue and causes arthritis pain.

The new study validates traditional uses of frankincense as an herbal remedy to treat arthritis in communities of North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, where the trees that produce this aromatic resin grow. Did the magi “from the East” know of frankincense’s healing properties when they presented it to young Jesus? —————— Holiday Spa Connection: Gifts of the Magi - Spa Shiki Holiday Spa Connection: Gifts of the Magi Home /Holiday Spa Connection: Gifts of the Magi Holiday Spa Connection: Gifts of the Magi By Ann Brown In the story of Christ’s birth, the three wise men, Melchior, Balthasar and Caspar, carry precious gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the infant king. While our modern day culture still holds high the value of gold, the gifts of frankincense and myrrh are two elements of the story that are often glossed over – accepted, but their value not really understood. Highly valued at the time of Christ, frankincense and myrrh are gummy resin derived from tree bark, from which essential oil can be obtained. Essential oils are used in aromatherapy to promote healing in both body and mind.

Technically, essential oils are the most potent and concentrated extracts of flowers, fruits, leaves, spices, roots, and woods. The resins and essential oils of frankincense and myrrh were priceless medicines, worth their weight in gold to the Egyptians and Greeks, and used to treat everything from skin disorders to viral infections, from cancer to depression and more. Although they have medicinal qualities, these gifts were brought to Jesus to strengthen his immune system and his constitution. Myrrh was brought to draw on spiritual and emotional protection and keep him focused. Highly fragrant, the sweet-smelling frankincense was, and still is, used for worship and meditation and can produce a calming effect. Myrrh is known as an agent used for healing oil and embalming. It was also used as a perfume in ancient times. Myrrh carries properties such as anti-microbial, astringent and anti-fungal (which support its use as healing oil). It is also known as a stimulating fragrance. The odors produced through essential oils do more than create a response of appeal or dislike. The three Magi brought the oils to specifically make sure Jesus would be strong enough, healthy and in his right mind to do what he needed to do.

The use of oils can help us strengthen body and mind, connecting the two just as the wise men sought to do for Jesus. Essential oils actually create a physiological response and contain chemical components that affect mind and body. Properties of essential oils vary from anti-inflammatory and anti-viral to calming. One of the most commonly used essential oils, lavender is known for its sweet floral smell and calming properties, often used to alleviate feelings of depression and stress. Essential oils are most often absorbed through inhalation. When inhaled, the essential oil molecules begin to interact with the limbic system, the part of the brain that processes moods, emotions, memory and learning. Also directly connected to parts of the brain that control heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, stress levels, and hormone balance, the limbic system reacts to essential oils with physiological and psychological effects. By stimulating certain bodily systems, such as circulation or the immune or nervous system, the essential oils create a physical effect. Psychologically, essential oils evoke memories, triggering the body’s acute sense of smell and creating a positive reaction. It’s important to note a difference between essential oils and other fragrances.

While you may appreciate the invigorating scent of your bath soap in the morning, without essential oils, it will not carry true medicinal properties. Essential oils are therapeutic and can be used to alleviate or address specific conditions. If you want to use essential oils through inhalation to boost your mood, immune system or other areas of health, look for candles that contain true essential oils or invest in a simple diffuser that will simmer the essential oils. Essential oils can also be applied used through massage. Aromatherapy massage is found on the menu at many spas. At Spa Shiki, this type of massage is very light touch – the purpose is not to work the muscles but to relax and rebalance the body. Custom-blended oils are applied to specific reflex points, following nerve pathways around the vertebrae. Shadowing and reddening around the spine and areas of the back can appear – indicators of more specific problems based on the structural area of where they stem from the spine and each vertebra. Following a diagram to pinpoint what areas of the body are out of sync, therapists begin a dialogue with the guest about what areas of the body or their health they may like to see addressed through spa therapy.

As an initial treatment, aroma-reflex provides information on each guest’s specific needs to the therapist. While studies have documented their physiological effects upon the body, exactly how essential oils work still remain somewhat of a mystery. Their use has survived through the centuries, however, giving testament to their value. The story of Christmas helps remind us of their importance. You can find more information online at Web sites such as or Ann Brown is the spa director at Spa Shiki at The Lodge of Four Seasons and a member of the International Spa Association board of directors. ISPA is recognized worldwide as the professional organization and voice of the spa industry, representing more than 3,000 health and wellness facilities and providers in 75 countries. Brown’s spa experience includes work at PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach, Florida and Barnsley Gardens in Atlanta. Why Did The Wise Men Give Jesus Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh? Enter your email address to receive updates in your inbox! Subscribe Imagine giving someone you love a Christmas gift that sums up their true identity and their entire life. That’s exactly what happened when the Wise Men gave the infant Jesus their gifts.

But the power behind that story is lost on us because we know nothing about myrrh and frankincense. Both are fragrant resins from the sap of trees grown in the Arab Peninsula, east Africa and India. Frankincense is a milky white gum and myrrh is reddish-yellow. To harvest both, workers make vertical cuts in the tree bark until the sap slowly oozes out and drips down, forming droplets called tears which are left to harden for about two weeks. The trees from which frankincense is made are known for their incredible ability to grow in places so desolate they sometimes sprout out of solid rock. How they attach to the limestone still isn’t understood by scientists but a disk-like growth at the bottom of the trunk stops the tree from getting torn away from the rock during the intense storms that frequent where they grow. For 5,000 years, the expensive, aromatic resins of those trees have been used to make perfume, medicine, incense and burial spices. In Egypt, women used the scented smoke from frankincense and myrrh to make themselves fragrant and mixed them into their eye shadow.

Both resins were used to preserve mummies, and priests used them to treat wounds and snakebites. Both were also used in the Jerusalem temple in a special incense (Exodus 30:34). So frankincense became a powerful symbol of both God’s holy name (Malachi 1:11) and prayer (Psalm 141:2) which rises to heaven like incense. In Judaism, Islam and Christianity, the scent of frankincense represented life and was mixed with oil to anoint newborns, or adults moving into a new phase in their spiritual lives. But myrrh was also used as a painkiller and for burials. Wine and myrrh were offered to Jesus during crucifixion, and myrrh was used to preserve his body. In fact, that balm is at the root of the word “embalm”. But myrrh, also known in the Bible as the Balm of Gilead, was a healing salve, too.

In fact, the caravan that bought Joseph from his brothers was carrying balm to Egypt from Gilead in modern-day Jordan and, years later, his father, Jacob, sent Joseph balm as a gift before it was used to preserve his own body for the trip back to the Promised Land (Gen. 37:25, 43:11, 50:13). Even today, myrrh is effective in the treatment of arthritis and bladder cancer. No wonder it was once equal its weight in gold. Whether the Wise Men knew it or not, their gifts honored the kingship of Jesus (gold), his role as a priest representing his people to God (frankincense) and both his death and healing resurrection (myrrh). And in a figurative sense, our Father wants us to offer those same gifts today. Along with giving the grown-up Jesus absolute control of our lives, God calls us to surrender the contents of our hearts as a full and costly sacrifice to Him. Like frankincense, those hearts find growth and stability in the Rock, and it’s love that keeps us from being torn from him during even the fiercest storms we face.

But often our very soul must be cut and fully exposed before the truth comes to the surface and the offering is made. But when we’re willing, our heart, our mind and our will each grow to become synonymous with God’s name, consistent and compelling prayer, new birth, and spiritual growth. Our offering made in faith acts as a painkiller and a preservative, helping us deal with the trauma and turmoil of life and keeping our hearts intact until Jesus comes again in victory to take us home. He is the true Balm of Gilead, a soothing, powerful salve to heal the wounds of sin and self-centredness and preserve the Body of Christ ― God’s people ― for the ultimate trip to the Promised Land. This Christmas, give the gift of life. Your life. And give it to God, freely, fully and fearlessly, knowing He can do much more with it than you. As a wise man once said, “We are no fool to give what we cannot keep to gain what we cannot lose.” Nothing sappy about that. Have a blessed Christmas.

Please Share: Frankincense and myrrh are special herbs FacebookEmail Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Pinterest Frankincense and myrrh are special herbs Tradition holds that the Magi brought them to the infant Jesus on Jan. 6, now celebrated as Epiphany. Post to Facebook Frankincense and myrrh are special herbs Tradition holds that the Magi brought them to the infant Jesus on Jan. 6, now celebrated as Epiphany. Check out this story on thedailyjournal.com: CancelSend A link has been sent to your friend's email address. Posted! A link has been posted to your Facebook feed. Join the Conversation Activate your digital access. Frankincense and myrrh are special herbs LORRAINE GROCHOWSKI-KIEFER, For the Daily Journal Published 4:19 p.m. ET Dec. 29, 2015 | Updated 4:20 p.m. ET Dec. 29, 2015 Tradition holds that the Magi brought gold, frankincense and myrrh to the infant Jesus on Jan. 6, now celebrated as Epiphany.

(Photo: Provided) I love to read and write about two very ancient herbs, frankincense and myrrh. Most people think of them as something in a carol and or holiday cards; however, frankincense and myrrh are derived from the gummy sap that oozes out of, respectively, the Boswellia and Commiphora trees when their bark is cut. Once the sap or resin seeps out and hardens into "tears," it is usually scraped off the trunk. It can be edible and may be chewed like gum, but more often it is burned, with frankincense giving off a sweet, citrusy scent and myrrh producing a piney, bitter odor. Both frankincense and myrrh are derived from plants that grow in the Middle East and Africa. They grow in very harsh, dry climates and will not adapt to our area or I would grow them! Tradition holds that the Magi brought gold, frankincense and myrrh to the infant Jesus on Jan. 6, now celebrated as Epiphany or "Little Christmas," as my babci — my grandmother — called this day.

It often goes unnoticed by many modern people, but just a few generations ago people visited and partied from Christmas until this day in January. Most churches still observe Epiphany and leave their decorations up until after Epiphany. I wouldn’t think of taking mine down until mid-January, but then I put them up after Thanksgiving — not before. We have long had an Epiphany party the weekend nearest this day. The best part of the party is having the incense of frankincense and myrrh burning all along my front walkway to the house. I love this ancient scent and am glad when it is used at holiday Masses. Unfortunately the fire alarms in many churches prohibit its use now. It is such an ancient custom that is linked to the first Christmas season. Frankincense comes from the first cuts of a thorny bark of a shrubby plant called Boswellia carteri that grows in the Arabian Peninsula. Frankincense was used by ancient Israelites when they burned it with their offerings of lamb and the first fruits of the harvest. Early Christians also used it to celebrate Jesus as the lamb of God. The fragrant smoke used in rites is said to sanctify and carry praise and prayer to heaven.

This smoke is also thought to clear the air for higher thinking or meditation. Myrrh comes from a plant called Commiphora myrrha, a native of Arabia, Ethiopia and most of northern Africa. In Arabic, "mur" means bitter. This refers to the taste, not the smell. It is rarely used alone, but usually paired with frankincense. (Myrrh is used in toothpaste and mouthwash as it is said to heal gums.) Both frankincense and myrrh have been traded in the Middle East and North Africa for at least 5,000 years. Most readings about these herbs confirm that the ancient Egyptians bought entire boatloads of the resins from the Phoenicians, using them in incense, insect repellent, perfume and salves for wounds and sores as in the embalming process. Myrrh oil was said to have been used by ancients for a rejuvenating facial treatment. According to the Bible, frankincense and myrrh were in the incense burned in Jerusalem’s temples during ancient times. The Greeks and Romans also imported massive amounts of the resins, which they burned during cremations.

These ancients also used them medically as an antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic medicine. It is said that myrrh appears with more frequency than any other plant substance in the writings of the Greek physician Hippocrates, in the third and fourth century B.C. At the time Jesus was born, frankincense and myrrh may have been worth more than gold. The advent of modern medicine did much to cut the demand for frankincense and myrrh, but some alternative practitioners continue to prize the resins for their healing properties. If you would like to experience the magic of these ancient herbs, one of the best ways to use frankincense and myrrh is to burn the crude resin on hot coals as the ancients did. This will release a distinctive aroma and mysterious trails of fragrant incense. Although the curling tendrils of burning frankincense and myrrh have been with us since antiquity, many find them much too strong to burn in the average home. Ancient temples and Cathedrals had high ceilings for the smoke to reach, thus diluting the fragrance. So you may want to be cautious and burn only a couple of tears at first or do so on a porch.

Many congregations still use incense mixtures during Masses and prayer services. I am always disappointed when I attend a Mass and the incense is one of the "new" fake rose or cinnamon incenses. For the most part, these are made from synthetic oils and smell nasty, often causing allergic reactions. There is nothing as sacred as the smell of real incense when one enters a church. I feel that it sets the stage, so to speak, and evokes a feeling or link to the past and all eternity. The resin of the two scrubby little shrubs of the East that have been immortalized in our Christmas carols and cards look like nothing more than brown or white pebbles when one holds them in a palm of a hand. I like to put them in little bags with a touch of gold glitter and tied with gold ribbon to present as Epiphany presents. On Jan. 6, drop some real Frankincense and myrrh on a burning coal, wood stove or hot skillet and you will bring the world of the ancients kings alive by the magic of fragrance. Triple Oaks sells real frankincense and myrrh tears and the charcoal disc on which to burn the resin.

When we mix the two together, we call it Holy Smoke! There are also real candles made of the same in a monastery. Email plant questions to lorrainekiefer@gmail.com and sign up for a horticultural online newsletter at 5 CONNECT TWEET LINKEDIN COMMENTEMAILMORE Read or Share this story: TOP VIDEOS A Wise Man’s Cure: Frankincense and Myrrh - History in the Headlines A Wise Man’s Cure: Frankincense and Myrrh June 27, 2011 By Jennie Cohen Leaves and flowers of a Boswellia sacra tree, a common source of frankincense. Share this: A Wise Man’s Cure: Frankincense and Myrrh Author A Wise Man’s Cure: Frankincense and Myrrh URL Google What made frankincense so precious that the wise men of New Testament fame bestowed it upon the infant Jesus? Scientists at Cardiff University in Wales have an answer that may have eluded the three kings of the Bible: It may help relieve and alleviate the painful symptoms of arthritis, which affects millions of people around the world.

Frankincense and the other plant-derived treasure given to the newborn Jesus in the New Testament narrative—myrrh—have a long history dating back thousands of years. Though perhaps best known for their use in incense and ancient rituals, these substances—both of which boast proven antiseptic and inflammatory properties—were once considered effective remedies for everything from toothaches to leprosy. “We have textual—and also archaeological—evidence that both frankincense and myrrh were used as medicinal substances in antiquity,” confirmed Alain Touwaide, a historian of medicine at the Institute for the Preservation of Medical Traditions and the Smithsonian Institution. Today, researchers like the Cardiff team are drawing on this centuries-old knowledge to develop modern treatments for a variety of disorders. Find out more about these healing gifts of the magi. What are frankincense and myrrh? Both frankincense and myrrh are derived from the gummy sap that oozes out of the Boswellia and Commiphora trees, respectively, when their bark is cut. The leaking resin is allowed to harden and scraped off the trunk in tear-shaped droplets; it may then be used in its dried form or steamed to yield essential oils.

Both substances are edible and often chewed like gum. They are also extremely fragrant, particularly when burned, with frankincense giving off a sweet, citrusy scent and myrrh producing a piney, bitter odor. Because frankincense and myrrh can be collected from multiple Boswellia and Commiphora species, several different varieties are available. The shrubby trees that produce them are native to the Arabian Peninsula and regions of northeast Africa, though Boswellia has also been cultivated in southern China. (Frankincense has been a staple of traditional Chinese medicine since at least 500 B.C.) Early attempts to grow the trees in the Levant—and specifically in what is now Israel—failed, according to Touwaide. Ancient uses and value Both frankincense—also known as olibanum—and myrrh have been traded in the Middle East and North Africa for upwards of 5,000 years. It is believed that the Babylonians and Assyrians burned them during religious ceremonies.

The ancient Egyptians bought entire boatloads of the resins from the Phoenicians, using them in incense, insect repellent, perfume and salves for wounds and sores; they were also key ingredients in the embalming process. Myrrh oil served as a rejuvenating facial treatment, while frankincense was charred and ground into a power to make the heavy kohl eyeliner Egyptian women famously wore. Sacks of frankincense and potted saplings of myrrh-producing trees appear in murals decorating the walls of a temple dedicated to Queen Hatshepsut, who ruled Egypt for roughly two decades until her death around 480 B.C. According to the Hebrew Bible, frankincense and myrrh were components of the holy incense ritually burned in Jerusalem’s sacred temples during ancient times. The ancient Greeks and Romans also imported massive amounts of the resins, which they burned as incense, used during cremations and took for a wide variety of ailments. By this time, medical practitioners had recognized and documented the substances’ antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, prescribing them for everything from indigestion and chronic coughs to hemorrhoids and halitosis.

According to Touwaide, myrrh appears with more frequency than any other plant substance in the writings of the Greek physician Hippocrates, who revolutionized the field of medicine in the fourth and third centuries B.C. The Roman historian and botanist Pliny the Elder, who recommended frankincense as an antidote to hemlock poisoning, wrote in the first century A.D. that the pricey dried sap had made the southern Arabians the richest people on earth. At the time Jesus is thought to have been born, frankincense and myrrh may have been worth more than their weight in the third gift presented by the wise men: gold But despite their significance in the New Testament, the substances fell out of favor in Europe with the rise of Christianity and fall of the Roman Empire, which essentially obliterated the thriving trade routes that had developed over many centuries. In the early years of Christianity, incense was expressly forbidden because of its associations with pagan worship; later, however, some denominations, including the Catholic Church, would incorporate the burning of frankincense, myrrh and other aromatic items into specific rites.

Frankincense and myrrh today While the advent of modern medicine dealt another blow to the market for frankincense and myrrh, some communities and alternative practitioners continue to prize the resins for their healing properties. For instance, both are commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurveda and aromatherapy. Many popular natural toothpastes contain myrrh, which has proven beneficial to dental and gum health since ancient times. In a series of clinical and laboratory studies over the last two decades, frankincense and myrrh have shown promise in addressing a number of common disorders. For example, a 1996 paper reported that myrrh blunts pain in mice, while a 2009 study suggested that it might help lower cholesterol. Frankincense has been investigated as a possible treatment for some cancers, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, anxiety and asthma, among other conditions. If these ancient remedies can indeed provide relief for the many patients who suffer from these potentially devastating illnesses, the great incense roads of antiquity may flourish once again. Tags What was the star of Bethlehem? | The United Methodist Church What was the star of Bethlehem?

Share via Email Print A UMNS Feature By Heather Hahn* "After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in the territory of Judea during the reign of King Herod, magi came from the east to Jerusalem. They asked, 'Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We've seen his star in the east, and we've come to honor him.'" (Matthew 2:1-2, Common English Bible) Just about every year at Christmastime, Nick Strobel can count on getting questions about the star that guided the magi. Strobel is the planetarium director and a physical science professor at Bakersfield College in central California. As an astronomer and lifelong United Methodist, he has a certain affinity with the Bible's most famous stargazers. "We both have a love of the night sky," said Strobel, a member of Wesley United Methodist Church in Bakersfield. "And, we search for a place or person where heaven and earth meet, and we both found that in the person of Jesus." The biblical account of the magi does not quite match the typical church Christmas pageant image of three little boys in scratchy beards and lopsided crowns dropping gifts by the baby Jesus' manger.

The second chapter of Matthew — the only Gospel where the wise men appear — does not specify their number or say they were kings. Matthew also does not mention the no-vacancies inn, the manger or the quaking shepherds — those are all found in the Gospel of Luke. Nick Strobel A web-only photo courtesy of Nick Strobel. Instead, in Matthew, the wise men visit the holy family in a house in Bethlehem some point after Jesus' birth. The number three probably derives from the three gifts they brought to the Christ child - gold, frankincense and myrrh. The magi — called magoi in the original Greek — were likely sages and astrologers. The tradition that they were three kings named Gaspar, Melchior and Balthasar developed centuries later. On this the Bible and Christmas tradition do agree: The magi found the newborn king by following a star. The ancients believed God would make destiny manifest in the stars, said Gregory J. Riley, New Testament professor at United Methodist-related Claremont (Calif.) School of Theology .

So, it was no surprise that Jesus' birth was accompanied "by the appearance of his star in the very fabric of the heavens." The exact nature of that heavenly body has been a source of speculation — for Bible scholars, children's book authors , astronomers and, in recent decades, planetarium audiences. Discussion of the star is part of Bakersfield College's annual December planetarium show, "Season of Light," which Strobel hosts. "And look, the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stood over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy." (Matthew 2: 9-10) Strobel, 46, has his own thoughts about the star , which he has detailed in his blog . Since the night sky can vary greatly depending on the year and season, Strobel first needed a good estimate for Jesus' birth year to evaluate these possibilities. The Bible does not give Jesus' exact birth date. However, many biblical scholars and historians now think Jesus most likely was born around 6 to 4 B.C., and Strobel uses those years in his dating.

That puts Jesus' birth sometime near the death of Herod the Great (the wicked Herod mentioned at the beginning of Matthew) and Jesus' ministry during the early years of Pontius Pilate (the wicked Roman governor in all four Gospels). Strobel points to four natural phenomena that some astronomers think might explain the celestial sighting: a nova, a comet, a planetary conjunction and Jupiter's retrograde motion. What are frankincense & myrrh? While you will not find gold, frankincense and myrrh on a typical baby registry, the gifts certainly were fit for a king. Gold's value is self-explanatory. But, in many ways, frankincense and myrrh were just as desirable among royalty. Frankincense and myrrh — both rare, fragrant resins — were used in incense and perfumes. Because myrrh also was used to preserve corpses, many Christians have long seen the magi's gift as foreshadowing Christ's death. The carol " We Three Kings of Orient Are " connects myrrh to the "gathering gloom." Many ancients would have associated myrrh with burial, said the Rev.

Ben Witherington III of Asbury Theological Seminary . Myrrh also could serve as a narcotic, he said, and in that capacity, it featured in the Crucifixion. In Mark 15:23, Jesus on the cross was offered - and refused -wine mixed with myrrh. In John 19:39, Jesus later was buried with myrrh and aloe. Alicia D. Myers, New Testament professor at United Theological Seminary , doubts the Gospel of Matthew's earliest readers would have linked the magi's present with the coming tomb. "In Matthew we have no explicit connection between death and myrrh," she said. "Instead, the context of Matthew 2 highlights the expensive nature of the spice as a costly gift alongside the gold and frankincense. I am more inclined, then, to understand the myrrh as yet another move by Matthew to reinforce Jesus' kingly status rather than reading it as an allusion to his coming death." However interpreted, the gifts of the magi continue to inspire Christmas generosity each year.

Nova Chinese astronomers, Strobel said, recorded that a new star (or nova) appeared in the constellation Capricorn during March and April of 5 B.C. A nova is actually a white dwarf — that is, a dying star — that has gathered enough material, usually from another nearby star, to build up pressure and explode. A nova quickly peaks in brightness within a few days and then fades to invisible over a few months. The nova the Chinese spotted would have first appeared in the east (that much fits with the Gospel of Matthew). However, that nova would not have visibly moved much as the magi headed toward Bethlehem, which is why Strobel sees it as an unlikely candidate for Star of Bethlehem status. Comet Many ancient cultures, including the Chinese, regarded comets as heralds of important events. Trouble is, there are no comet sightings recorded around 6 to 4 B.C. Strobel said Halley's Comet made a swing by earth in 12 B.C., too early to portend the Bethlehem birth. That's probably a good a thing. The ancients typically viewed a comet as a bad sign — not a proclamation of joy to the world.

Planetary conjunction Planetary conjunctions, where two or more planets appear very close together in the night sky, may not make the headlines today the way comets do. Still, Strobel thinks such a conjunction is a much likelier prospect for the nativity's starring role. And, astronomically speaking, 7 to 6 B.C. were good years for conjunctions. In late May, late September and early December 7 B.C., Jupiter and Saturn moved past each other three times in the constellation Pisces. Such an occurrence happens only once every 900 years. The following February, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn formed a near conjunction in Pisces, which happens once every 800 years. The combination of Jupiter and Saturn would have seemed especially auspicious to these astrologers in the Near East, Strobel said. Jupiter symbolized royalty, and Saturn represented the Mesopotamian deity who protected Israel. In addition, ancient astrologers associated Pisces with the Jewish people. "(The wise men) would have been aware of the sky and probably kept records of the sky going back centuries," Strobel said. "They would have known this was a rare occurrence.

They'd think, 'Well maybe this is telling us that something really interesting is going to be happening there in Israel.'" Jupiter's retrograde motion If the wise men were in need of a further sign in the heavens, they got one in 5 B.C., Strobel said. That year, Jupiter, instead of "wandering" eastward as planets typically appear to do, seemed to stop and then go backward among the stars in what astronomers call a retrograde motion. Strobel compared the motion to what happens when a car accelerates past another car. It makes the slower vehicle look like it is standing still and then receding. In 5 B.C., earth passed Jupiter and it appeared to be stationary for about a week - perfect for hovering in place over a momentous birth. Among the various astronomical possibilities, Strobel thinks that the planetary conjunction and stationary Jupiter theories probably get closest to what the magi might have seen. "They entered the house and saw the child with Mary his mother. Falling to their knees, they honored him.

Then they opened their treasure chests and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh." (Matthew 2: 11) The three wise men appear before King Herod in this stained-glass window by an anonymous artist. Despite their crowns, the magi were not kings in the Bible. A web-only public domain image. The Rev. Ben Witherington III, a United Methodist elder and New Testament professor at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Ky., agrees that astronomical phenomena could help explain the magi's guide. But, he points out, the magi like most ancients would have seen stars and other celestial objects as living beings — much like "the heavenly host" that visited the shepherds. While it's fun to speculate, Strobel said, the nature of the star does not matter to his faith. In fact, he would not care if Matthew made up the whole story of the magi.

"He was not writing a science textbook or newspaper account," Strobel said, "but rather a book to persuade people that this person called Jesus was the Son of God, one who should be worshipped, and one who showed us how to live as God wants us to live." The story of the nativity contains a deeper truth than can be found in any star chart, he said. "God, the infinite power of the universe, is just so willing and wanting to have a relationship with us that he became a powerless infant who had to be cared for," he said. "That's pretty amazing that God would be willing to do that." *Hahn is a multimedia news reporter for United Methodist News Service. News media contact: Heather Hahn, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org . Originally published Dec. 21, 2011.

Question: Which two priceless resins were brought by the Magi to the infant Jesus?
Answer: Frankincense and myrrh